Codex Justinianus (+ Glossa ordinaria of Accursius and the Summaria of Hieronymus Clarius)

Title : Codex Justinianus (+ Glossa ordinaria of Accursius and the Summaria of Hieronymus Clarius)

Author : Justinianus

Date : 1490

Dimensions : 45,5 x 30,0 cm

This is probably the most expensive book I have, printed by Baptistam de Tortis in Venice, on March 22nd 1490. It is the size of a Gutenberg Bible, with the cover measuring 45.5 x 30.0 cm and the leaf is 42.5 x 29.0 cm. The printed text is 34.2 x 22.0 cm.

The covers are made of leather over wood board, with remains of the 4 copper locks it had on the better preserved cover, and beautiful copper corners on all the corners, and a protection ornament, on both covers, in the middle, made also of cupper.
The front cover is more affected, with leather losses, but the last one stands intact.

Aceasta este probabil cea mai scumpa carte pe care o am, tiparita de Baptistam de Tortis in Venetia pe 22 martie 1490. Are dimensiunile uni biblii Gutenberg, cu copertile masurand 45,5 x 30,o cm, iar foaia masoara 42,5 x 29,0 cm. Textul tiparit ocupa pe pagina 34,2 x 22,0 cm.

Copertile sunt din piele peste placa de lemn, cu ramasitele celor 4 incuietori de cupru vizibile pe coperta mai bine conservata, cu frumoase ornamente de cupru pe toate colturile si ornament-protectie pe ambele coperti, in mijloc, deasemenea din cupru.

Coperta din fata este mai afectata, cu pielea rupta in unele parti, dar coperta din spate sta intacta dupa tot acest timp.

This book can be found in:
Great Britain, at Hereford CL
France, at the National Library
Germany, at Aschaffenburg HB, Dillingen StudB, Halle ULB, München BSB, München UB, Nordhausen StArch
Italy at Lucca Cap, Mantova, Napoli N, Tirolo Sem
U.S.A: Harvard Univ., Law School Library, Cambridge MA

There are 320 leaves, with the first leaf detached from the cover, unnumbered. 316 numbered leaves, one index leaf, one content leaf with the editorial seal, and one unprinted leaf, making the complete copy of the book!

Aceasta carte poate fi gasita in:

Marea Britanie, la Hereford CL

Franta, la Libraria Nationala

Germania, la Aschaffenburg HB, Dillingen StudB, Halle ULB, München BSB, München UB, Nordhausen StArch

Italia, la Lucca Cap, Mantova, Napoli N, Tirolo Sem

U.S.A, la Harvard Univ., Law School Library, Cambridge MA

Cartea are 320 de foi, cu prima pagina detasata din cotor, nenumarotata. Sunt 316 foi numerotate, o foaie index cu emblema editoriala si o foaie goala, insumand aceasta copie completa a cartii.

A great part of the leaves are burned. The book was probably saved from a fire on a last moment during its 520 years of age. The text is affected on several leaves, some are quite badly affected, with large text areas losses. Others are simply brownish with visible letters, readable text.

O mare parte a foilor sunt arse. Cartea a fost probabil salvata intr-un ultim moment dintr-un incendiu in decursul celor 520 de ani de existenta. Textul este afectat pe cateva foi, unele chiar sever afectate, cu mari suprafete de text lipsa. Altele sunt doar innegrite, cu scrisul vizibil si citibil.

The date:

(Data)

One leaf has a very interesting mark: a restoration, probably in the 15th century, or the early 16th century, with leather parchment. It is amazingly well restored for the technology of the time.

O pagina are particularitate: a fost restaurata, probabil in secolul XV, sau devreme in secolul XVI, cu pergament. Este foarte bine restaurata pentru tehnologia vremii.

A musical manuscript was found in the book – probably dating from the 15th century.

Un manuscris muzical a fost gasit in carte – probabil dateaza din secolul XV.

The book is a work of art. Probably different persons struggled to complete the wonderful initials, with great craftsmanship. There are hundreds of red and blue initials, several on every page.
The notations and little drawings on the margins of the text are completing the artistic feeling of the book, and gives an idea about its importance during its lifetime, especially in the early years.

Aceasta carte este o opera de arta. Probabil cateva persoane au muncit sa completeze minunatele initiale, cu maiestrie deosebita. Sunt sute de initiale albastre si rosii, cateva pe fiecare pagina.

Notatiile si micile desene pe marginea textului completeaza simtul artistic al cartii, si da o idee despre importanta acesteia la pe parcursul vietii, in special in primii ani.

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De Civitate Dei cum Commento

Title : De Civitate Dei cum Commento

Author : Sanctus Augustinus

Date : 1489

Dimensions : 32,4 x 21,7 cm

The incunabula has CCLXII + 2 (264) text leaves and wood covers with leather spine. The printer was Scoti (Nobilis viri Octaviani scoti civis modoentiesis) – published this book in Venice.
Some pages have stains and the lower corners burned. First 3 leaves are beautifully restored. Small worm holes to the last leaves, not very big and not affecting the reading.

The book is in great shape, overall, with well tied spine, and an important historical item of 520 years of age.

The date is present (octogesimonono – 89) – 1489.

The editor’s, with the title page at the end of the book.

The restoration and the burned corner:

Other owners in Romania are :

-Biblioteca Centrala Universitara Cluj-Napoca cota: inc.52 (Central Universitary Library in Cluj-Napoca)
-Biblioteca Naţională a României. Filiala Batthyaneum Alba Iulia cota: SR Inc. V 57 (National Library Romania – Batthyaneum – Alba-Iulia filial)

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Satyra,Iuuenalis Cum tribus commenta riisuidelicet Domitii Calderini Georgii Merulae nec no Georgii Vallae

Title : Satyra,Iuuenalis Cum tribus commenta riisuidelicet Domitii Calderini Georgii Merulae nec no Georgii Vallae
Author : Decimus Iunius Juvenalis
Date : 1496
Dimensions : 30,5 x 22,0 cm

The incunabula has 145 leaves, missing the OO6 leaf.
This book was tied with another one, the text on the margin proving this, but it is complete except for the leaf mentioned.
The printer is Symonem biuilaqua Papiensem, and it was printed in Venice.
Yellow leather vellum covers.
Well tied, with no leaves detached.
Some pages are stained or brown, but well kept for the book’s 510 yeas.
The leaves dimensions are : 30,0 x 20,0 cm.

Some pieces missing from the first 4 leaves, but outstandingly restored by specialists. Also, the last 5 leaves have the upper margins restored, with few text loss.

I couldn’t find other owner of a copy of this book in Romania.

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Sancti Bonaventure doctoris devotissimi super quartu li(bro) sen(tentiarum) disputata

Title : Sancti Bonaventure doctoris devotissimi super quartu li(bro) sen(tentiarum) disputata
Author : Saint Bonaveture and Peter Lombard
Location : Nurnberg, Germany
Date : 1491
Dimensions : 30,5 x 21,0 cm

First Edition

This is the first edition of Saint Bonaventure’s commentary on Peter Lombard’s writings (c. 1100 – 1160, Bishop of Paris), including Peter Lombard’s text. The book is edited by Johannes Beckenhaub, with the concluding epistle by Jakob Wimfeling (1450 – 1528), a German Renaissance humanist and theologian.

This is the 4th Volume. (Libri Quattuor Sententiarum) It contains 272 leaves, forming the complete copy, with beautiful text pagination. Index occupies 6 leaves. There are 2 blank leaves at the beginning of the book containing a beautiful filigree. The covers look like 16th century, and they have bumped corners, with the spine made out of leather parchment. The last page has small worm wholes. Some pages have small stains and a time pattern, but the overall condition is excellent, very well tied and kept.

The printer is Anton Koberger and the book was printed in Nuremberg.

The date page :

The filigree :

I couldn’t find other owner of a copy of this book in Romania.

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Scala Celi Vlme Impreffus

Title : Scala Celi Vlme Impreffus
Author : Johannes Gobius
Location : Ulm, Germany
Date : 1480
Dimensions : 29,0 x 20,0 cm

This is the second edition of this book, after the 1476th one. The book contains 168 leaves, the first two are parted from the spine, but present, with the writing affected. The first leaf is hand-written probably in the 15th century. The pages are well tied, with only one wood cover present and the skin that connected the covers. Small water stains over the beginning of the book and ink letters very visible over 2 leaves, beside that, an excellent copy with a very interesting time pattern! Small notations can be seen outside the text.

The book was published by Johannes Zeiner over 525 years ago and it still remains complete with an outstanding value.

Details are the ones that make this book a time’s work of art:

And of course, the date and editor:

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Epistolae

Title : Epistolae

Author : Eusebius Hieronymus Sophronius (Saint Jerome)
Date : 1476
Dimensions : 36,0 x 27,0 x 9,0 cm

The volume contains two books tied together in 15th century manuscript covers over vellum, with leather spine. Big water stain is present on the middle of the pages and fades to the center of the volume, with two columns on every page, a lot of hand-written red initials and a big initial drawing on the first page of the second book. It contains 345 leaves. Two white leaves are missing at the end of the first book, probably used on the inner sides of the covers, one blank leaf an the beginning of the volume, one blank leaf at the end with a big filigree filling it. This is a great copy of over 530 years old.

The printer is Antonio di Bartolommeo Miscomini, and it was printed in Venice, the date showing 22 of january.

The date :

The filigree on the written pages :

Biblioteca Academiei Romane Filiala Cluj-Napoca ( cota inc.53 ) (Romanian Academy Library in Cluj-Napoca) owns one copy of this book.

The same book with only 163 leaves valued at 175 000 USD :

http://www.abebooks.com/abe/ListingDetails?bi=979938225&cm_ven=PFX&cm_cat=affiliates&cm_pla=links&cm_ite=k158229&pfxid=a_170589004

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